Device for slagging of the bath surface of a melting bath of a metallurgical furnace

ABSTRACT

A device for slagging of the bath surface of a melting bath of a metallurgical furnace comprises a moving vehicle or car having wheels adapted for movement over the ground or a track surface and including a pivotal column on the car which carries a rake which may be moved outwardly or inwardly in respect to the pivotal column. The column is pivotal about a vertical axis by means of a fluid control piston and cylinder combination which is mounted on the car. The car carries jacking elements adjacent the wheels for lifting the car off the wheels in order to mount it firmly in position during operative raking, for example. An alternate embodiment includes a fixed mounting adjacent a metallurgical operation which pivotally supports a column carrying a traverse with guide pulleys for a track carrier for a rake which moves inwardly and outwardly thereon. The column is pivotal with the track carrier about a vertical axis and the track carrier carries a car, which may be movable backwardly and forwardly therealong, and which supports the inner end of the rake.

United States Patent lnventor Gunter Schmitz Rumeln-Kaldenhausen,Germany Appl. No. 753,584

Filed Aug. 19, 1968 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee DemagAktiengesellschatt Duisburg, Germany Priority Sept. 12, 1967 Germany P15 83 238.9

DEVICE FOR SLAGGING OF THE BATH SURFACE OF A MELTING BATH OF AMETALLURGICAL FURNACE 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 266/37, 266/1 R, 209/493, 210/527 Int. Cl F27d 23/00 Field ofSearch 266/37, 33, 34,1, 38; 2l4/l.l, 141; 209/493; 210/221, 527

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,080,840 3/1963 DeMan 214/1419/1964 Ferwerda 214/141 9/1965 Eitel 214/141 3,258,256 6/1966 Brooke266/34 3,362,548 l/l968 Cunningham 214/138 1,615,284 l/l927 Kennedy 2l4/l4l FOREIGN PATENTS 850,235 7/1949 Germany 266/37 PrimaryExaminer-Gerald A. Dost Attorney-McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: A device forslagging of the bath surface of a melting bath of a metallurgicalfurnace comprises a moving vehicle or car having wheels adapted .formovement over the ground or a track surface and including a pivotalcolumn on the car which carries a rake which may be moved outwardly orinwardly in respect to the pivotal column. The column is pivotal about avertical axis by means of a fluid control piston and cylindercombination which is mounted on the car. The car carries jackingelements adjacent the wheels for lifting the car off the wheels in orderto mount it firmly in position during operative raking, for example.

An alternate embodiment includes a fixed mounting adjacent ametallurgical operation which pivotally supports a column carrying atraverse with guide pulleys for a track carrier for a rake which movesinwardly and outwardly thereon. The column is pivotal with the trackcarrier about a vertical axis and the track carrier carries a car, whichmay be movable backwardly and forwardly therealong, and which supportsthe inner end ofthe rake.

PATENTED 0m 5 IBYI SHEET 2 [IF 3 Inventor Gl/NTEE SCI/M172 WJZW if Arrogzve'ys PATENTEU um 519m SHEET 3 or 3 Inventor GUN m2 SCHM/TZ DEVICEFOR SLAGGING OF THE BATH SURFACE OF A MELTING BATH OF A METALLURGICALFURNACE This invention relates in general to metallurgical furnaceaccessory equipment and, in particular, to a new and useful device forslagging off the bath surface of a melting bath tank which includes arake which moves in the slag skimming direction or transversely theretoand is carried on a vehicle which is movable backwardly and forwardly'inrespect to the furnace.

In order to slag a metallurgical furnace, the furnace haul crane of asteel mill brings the ladles into the range of the furnace. In planninga steel mill, the material flow is particularly important, and this canvary from one mill to the other due to the different sortingarrangements and quantities of materials which are handled. Thearrangement of the metallurgical plate halls, their layout as well asthe position of the tracks for traveling auxiliary devices, isdetermined to a great extent by the relation of the metallurgicalrequirements to the transportation requirements. In general, selectionof this layout forms the first basis for the principal structure of theplant whether it be a Siemens-Martin steel mill, a Thomas steel mill, ora blast steel mill. A start is made in this determination based on theamount of liquid pig iron and scrap material which is to be handled aswell as the composition of the pig iron. The amount of slag also plays apart.

After the mill has been laid out, the slagging operation can take placeonly at a point in the mill which has been provided for it and whichincludes a track for a slag car. The use of a slagging device mustdepend on the original plant layout through minor variations of theplant are possible. To provide any major change, it has been necessaryto modify the platform structure of the plant and this solutionrepresents a problem inasmuch as it is apt to lead to a blockage of theequipment with auxiliary devices so that in some instances inspection ofthe operations is not easily possible.

In Siemens-Martin mills, the planning of a slagging device permits goingdown to floor level if other working spaces are not available eventhough such space is very costly in such steel mills just as it is inthe Thomas-type steel mills. In most instances, the space in front ofand above the furnaces and converters is already occupied. For example,the storage bunkers for lime and other aggregates are arranged aboveSiemens-Martin furnaces. A conveyor plant is employed for filling thebunkers and, underneath the bunkers, tracks are provided for hoppertrucks. The tracks in front of the furnaces are likewise laid out forshort conveyor paths.

Similar conditions exist with converters. Practically only the converterplatform is available for additional handling equipment because thespace above the furnace next to the smelt flue as well as the space forcharging bunkers for aggregates is already occupied by blast lances andsimilar devices. The space around the smoke nave is thus completelyutilized. The pig iron arrives at the inlet of the charging hall fromthe gas furnace car in the ladle and is transported further from thereby means of the charging hall crane. The space in front of the furnacehall is also filled by the crane track. The expansion of the structureis not practically realizable.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a slaggingdevice which makes it possible to carry out the slagging operation veryclose to the furnace whether it be a Siemens-Martin type or a steel millconverter. The device includes a car which moves at the level of aworking surface. The car includes means for locking it in an operatingposition and it carries a column which is mounted for rotation about avertical axis and which serves as a support for the slagging rake. Theinvention utilizes the fact that the converter platform is greatlyoccupied with the various operations such as charging with scrap and pigiron but a surface is available between the various working sections onthe converter platform on which a traveling slagging device of the typeof the invention can perform its operation. The car constructed inaccordance with the invention is made so that it can be made to move outof the range of the furnace, for example, to one end of the converterplatform and placed there in an unused area when slagging operation isnot being carried out. Such an area can be found even if novacantsurfaces are provided in the original planning of the plant layout.

The car constructed in accordance: with the invention includes avertical column which carries the rake in a manner permitting its inwardand outward movement. The column is pivotally mounted upon a platformbase which carries wheels which may be moved over the ground or over atrack structure. The connection between the mounting on the car and thecolumn includes a hydraulic piston and cylinder combination for thecontrol pivotal movement of the column with the rig.

A further improvement in the car is that the car carries lifting jacks,preferably at three points of the car frame by means of which the wheelscan be lifted from the track plane and the car supported in a fixedorientation. Thus, the wheels of the car serve only to bring the carinto a position for slagging operation or for storage but the jacks arenormally lowered to anchor the device when the slagging operation iscarried out.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle forthe slagging of metallurgical furnaces which includes a column pivotalon a wheeled platform and carrying a telescopically movable rake.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slagging vehicle whichis simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical tomanufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallurgical rakingdevice which includes a column which may be pivotally supported at alocation adjacent a metallurgical bath and which carries a traverse withguide pulleys for a track carrier which is guided by the pulleys forinward and outward movement and which, in turn, provides a trackway fora car carrying the slagging rake, the column being pivotal about avertical axis for shifting the position of the rake.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described in preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a slagging device constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus indicated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the rake car of the embodiment ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawingsin particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a slag cargenerally designated 2 which is adapted to run over the surface 1. Thissurface I is either at ground level in a Siemens-Martin steel mill or atthe level of a working platform.

Depending on whether a pig iron ladle is to be freed of slag in a pit,the car 2 can be moved on the ground or on one of the known converterplatforms. The deposit area of the car is not represented but should beselected according to the characteristics of the plant with which thecar would be used.

In accordance with the invention, the slagging device 2 carries aspace-saving slag-raking mechanism or slag rake boom generallydesignated 3 which carries attack member or track car 4 which may beshifted inwardly and outwardly on wheel guides generally designated 40and 42 which are carried on a vertical pivotal column member or rakestation generally designated 6. The guide track member 4 carries theinner end of the slagging bridge or rake 5 in a manner permitting itsbackward and forward movement with the guide track member 4 during theslagging operation. The slagging rake 5 is formed as a tube or pipewhich is carried on an arm 50 of the rake car similar to that shown inFIG. 3. The overall construction of the slag rake mechanism 3 ischaracterized by the fact that the parts are telescopically movable ormovable inwardly and outwardly in respect to column 6 and pivotal withcolumn 6 about a vertical axis in order to provide the inner and outerextending movement and the lateral shifting of the rake 5 required forthe slagging operation.

The column 6 is rotatably supported on a central bearing 7 which iscarried on a base frame or platform 8 of substantially triangularconfiguration. The base frame 8 carries a rearward rectangularprojecting part 9 which pivotally supports a steering axle 10 forturning movement about a vertical axis 43 centrally located on theprojecting part 9. The axle carries wheels 1 1, l l which may bedesigned for either track or ground travel. The forward part of theplatform base 8 carries additional wheels 1 1, 11. A fork or yoke member13 is secured to each end of the axle 10 and it may be coupled by meansof a fulcrum connection 14 with a car or tractor which is used inmetallurgical plans. In some instances it is desirable to provide adriving unit for the car 2, in which event the axle would be connectedto suitable means for affecting the steering.

The column 6, along with its boom 3, is shifted or rotated about thebearing support 7 by means of a fluid pressure operated control deviceor motor generally designated 44. The device 44 includes a cylinder 16which is pivoted at 15 to an extension arm member 23 of the platform 8.It carries a piston rod member having a piston (not shown) which isslidable in the cylinder 16 and which is pivotally connected through apivot connection 19 to an extension 20 of the column 6. When the motor44 is operated, the column 6 is rotated as desired to shift the positionof the rake 5.

According to a further feature of the invention, the car 2 carries aplurality of lifting jacks 22 which in the embodiment illustrated arelocated at each side of the forward end of the platform base 8 and eachside of arm members 23 which extend outwardly from the rear end of thebase 8. The invention provides a slagging device in a form of a vehiclewhich can be moved easily from the deposit area into the expected rangeof the pig iron ladle and which can be locked in position by loweringthe jacks 22 so that it may be anchored for operation in a very shorttime. The rake 5 is constructed so that it might be moved inwardly andoutwardly in respect to its associated support rail 4, or turned withthe column 6 for positioning as desired to accomplish the slaggingoperation.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, a slagging device, orslag car generally designated 102, includes a fixed installation locatedin the range of a pig iron ladle 103 or transportable by a crane (notshown) to this range on a carrier or platform 101. The slagging device102 includes a column or vertical member 107 having a pivot bearing 108,which is mounted on the platform 101 for rotation of the column 107about a vertical axis. The column carries a traverse or guide pulleybrackets 106, 106 having pulleys or guide wheels 105, 105, which supporta track carrier 104 for inward and outward movement between opposed setsof pulleys 105, 105. For this purpose, the track carrier 104 is providedwith bearing faces or extensions 119, which bear on the respectivepulleys 105. As best seen in FIG. 6, the column 107 is composed ofspaced uprights or side frame members 118, 118 which are held by crossmembers 114, 114. The traverses 106, 106 are secured in position to theuprights 118, 118, respectively.

The track carrier 104 itself is provided with a trackway 120 for guidingthe wheels 122 of a track car 109 which is movable backwardly andforwardly along the trackway 120. The car 109 is driven by a cable 111which runs over pulleys 112 and,

is secured to a projection (FIG. 3) on the car 109 and at its oppositeend to a projection 113, which is secured to the top cross frame 114. Afluid cylinder 115 is provided on the frame 114 for driving the trackcarrier 104 backwardly and forwardly and, for this purpose, it isactuated by a movable piston rod 116 having a projection 117 which issecured to the track carrier 104. When the piston rod 116 is extended,the track carrier 104 and the car 109 are moved to the dotted line endposition indicated to the left of FIG. 3.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the column 107 is connected at one of its sideparts to a lever arm or extension portion 121, the outer end of which ispivotally connected to a piston rod 123 which moves in a cylinder 122.The cylinder 122 is pivotally mounted on its housing at 124. Changing ofthe position of the piston rod 123 will cause the pivotal movement ofthe column 107 about its vertical axis.

As seen in FIG. 5, the car 109 has a cylindrical housing 125, whichcarries a fluid cylinder 126. A piston rod 127, which is movable in thecylinder 126, is connected by a connecting bar 128 through a pivot joint129. The opposite end of the bar 128 is pivotally connected at 130 to acrank arm 131 of a slagging rake. Crank arm 131 is pivotally supportedat 133 on the car 109. The crank arm 131 is provided with a notch 133for accommodating a journal 134 of the slagging rake 132. A lockingforce is provided for the arm 131 by a spring 135, which bears againstthe arm. A rake insert 136 is carried at the end of the am 132 and itmay be moved over the slag layer 137 from the solid line position to thedotted line position indicated in FIG. 3.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for slagging of the bath surface of a melting bath of ametallurgical unit comprising a wheeled platfonn, a column on saidplatform mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially verticalaxis, a rake carried by said column and having at least a part thereofmovable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said column, a fluidcylinder pivotally connected to said platform and having a movablepiston rod connected to said column, the piston rod being shiftable insaid cylinder for shifting said column about said vertical axis, saidrake including a boom portion which is movable backwardly and forwardlyin respect to said column, said column having a wheel member guidingsaid boom for inward and outward movement, said rake having a slaggingbridge, said boom portion having a trackway along which a portion ofsaid slagging bridge is movable, said slagging bridge having rails for aslag car.

7 2. A device for slagging of the bath surface of a melting bath of ametallurgical unit comprising a wheeled platform, a column on saidplatform mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially verticalaxis, a rake carried by said column and having at least a part thereofmovable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said column, a fluidcylinder pivotally connected to said platform and having a movablepiston rod connected to said column, the piston rod being shiftable insaid cylinder for shifting said column about said vertical axis, saidrake including a boom portion which is movable backwardly and forwardlyin respect to said column, said column having a wheel member guidingsaid boom for inward and outward movement, said platform is ofsubstantially triangular configuration and having a rear portion ofsubstantially rectangular configuration extending outwardly from theapex of said triangular base portion, and a steering axle pivotallysupported on said rectangular rear portion.

3. A device for slagging of a bath surface of a melting bath of ametallurgical furnace comprising, a mounting base adjacent the furnace,a column on said mounting base mounted for pivotal movement about asubstantially vertical axis, and rake means carried by said columnincluding at least a part thereof which is movable inwardly andoutwardly in respect to said column, said rake means including a trackcarrier, means mounting said track carrier on said column for movementbackwardly and forwardly in respect to said column.

4. A device, according to claim 3, including a car movable backwardlyand forwardly along said track carrier and a rake carried by said car.

5. A device, according to claim 4, including means pivotally mountingsaid rake on said car and means for shifting said take about its pivotalmounting.

6. A device, according to claim 5, wherein said rake is mounted about asubstantially horizontal axis for pivotal movement and including fluiddrive means connected between said track carrier and said car forshifting said car in respect to said track carrier.

7. A device, according to claim 6, including second fluid drive meansconnected between said means mounting said track carrier on said columnand said track carrier for shifting said track carrier.

8. A metallurgical furnace slagging device comprising, a rotatablevertical column, means mounting said column for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis, a traverse bracket carried on said columnand defining spaced sets of vertical guide pulleys, a track carriersupported between said guide pulleys and movable inwardly and outwardlyin respect to said column between said guide pulleys, a car guided forinward and outward movement in respect to said track way, and fluiddrive means for shifting said track carrier in respect to said columnand said car in respect to said track carrier.

9. A device, according to claim 8, including a rake am, a crank armdefining a support for supporting said rake arm and being pivotal abouta substantially horizontal axis on said car, and means for biasing saidrake arm against said crank arm.

1. A device for slagging of the bath surface of a melting bath of ametallurgical unit comprising a wheeled platform, a column on saidplatform mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially verticalaxis, a rake carried by said column and having at least a part thereofmovable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said column, a fluidcylinder pivotally connected to said platform and having a movablepiston rod connected to said column, the piston rod being shiftable insaid cylinder for shifting said column about said vertical axis, saidrake including a boom portion which is movable backwardly and forwardlyin respect to said column, said column having a wheel member guidingsaid boom for inward and outward movement, said rake having a slaggingbridge, said boom portion having a trackway along which a portion ofsaid slagging bridge is movable, said slagging bridge having rails for aslag car.
 2. A device for slagging of the bath surface of a melting bathof a metallurgical unit comprising a wheeled platform, a column on saidplatform mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially verticalaxis, a rake carried by said column and having at least a part thereofmovable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said column, a fluidcylinder pivotally connected to said platform and having a movablepiston rod connected to said column, the piston rod being shiftable insaid cylinder for shifting said column about said vertical axis, saidrake including a boom portion which is movable backwardly and forwardlyin respect to said column, said column having a wheel member guidingsaid boom for inward and outward movement, said platform is ofsubstantially triangular configuration and having a rear portion ofsubstantially rectangular configuration extending outwardly from theapex of said triangular base portion, and a steering axle pivotallysupported on said rectangular rear portion.
 3. A device for slagging ofa bath surface of a melting bath of a metallurgical furnace comprising,a mounting base adjacent the furnace, a column on said mounting basemounted for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, andrake means carried by said column including at least a part thereofwhich is movable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said column, saidrake means including a track carrier, means mounting said track carrieron said column for movement backwardly and forwardly in respect to saidcolumn.
 4. A device, according to claim 3, including a car movablebackwardly and forwardly along said track carrier and a rake carried bysaid car.
 5. A device, according to claim 4, including means pivotallymounting said rake on said car and means for shifting said rake aboutits pivotal mounting.
 6. A device, according to claim 5, wherein saidrake is mounted about a substantially horizontal axis for pivotalmovement and including fluid drive means connected between said trackcarrier and said car for shifting said car in respect to said trackcarrier.
 7. A device, according to claim 6, including second fluid drivemeans connected between said means mounting said track carrier on saidcolumn and said track carrier for shifting said track carrier.
 8. Ametallurgical furnace slagging device comprising, a rotatable verticalcolumn, means mounting said column for rotation about a substantiallyvertical axis, a traverse bracket carried on said column and definingspaced sets of vertical guide pulleys, a track carrier supported betweensaid guide pulleys and movable inwardly and outwardly in respect to saidcolumn between said guide pulleys, a car guided for inward and outwardmovement in respect to said track way, and fluid Drive means forshifting said track carrier in respect to said column and said car inrespect to said track carrier.
 9. A device, according to claim 8,including a rake arm, a crank arm defining a support for supporting saidrake arm and being pivotal about a substantially horizontal axis on saidcar, and means for biasing said rake arm against said crank arm.